Off the Trolley

Through the 1920s, Harold Lloyd was the most popular silent film comic. Much of this was because his characters were all very likable....sweet guys who manage to rise to the occasion. But in his earlier films, Lloyd was looking for direction. In his earlier ones, he played an annoying guy named Lonesome Luke. Later, he abandoned this weird looking guy for the familiar everyman with glasses we've all come to love...but STILL he was not so sweet and likable. You'll notice this in "Off the Trolley"...a film where he actually is a bit of a jerk...and not at all likable.

Much of the film consists of Harold hurting people. First, he gets folks bashed on the head by police, then he's cruel to folks on the trolley...especially the tiny man who he kicks, knocks around and more. This is the sort of humor you get...nasty and not particularly nice humor. In addition, you have Snub Pollard playing the world's WORST trolley driver and Bebe Daniels along to be on the receiving end of Harold's rude advances. Overall, a forgettable and seriously sub-par film with little to distinguish it. You'd never know he was just about to achieve greatness if you only saw this film and knew nothing more about the comic.

Harold Lloyd has the edge over Chaplin in this film because he is making use of props on the street rather than imitating Chaplin. Chaplin embodies pathos and comedy whereas HL embodies the American spirit of daredevil achievement. This film immortalized the American street car.